Programs

Literary prizes

The Dutch Foundation for Literature awards prizes for the work of literary translators and writers, both independently and in collaboration with partners in the book trade.

European Literature Prize

Annual prize for the best contemporary European novel to appear in Dutch translation in the previous year. The prize consists of €10,000 for the author of the winning book, and €5,000 for the translator.

Organisation

Dutch Foundation for Literature, in collaboration with academic-cultural centre Spui25, Athenaeum Boekhandel and weekly De Groene Amsterdammer. The prize is financed by the Dutch Foundation for Literature, the Lira Fonds, the De Lancey & De La Hanty Foundation and a dozen independently operating Dutch bookshops. Every year the Foundation organizes the Vertalersgeluktournee (Translators Bliss Tour), with the translators nominated for the longlist of the European Literature Prize.

Winners

  • Meer dan een broer by David Diop, translated from French by Martine Woudt and Lente by Ali Smith, translated from English by Karina van Santen en Martine Vosmaer (2020).
  • Onder de Drachenwand by Arno Geiger, translated from German by Wil Hansen (2019)
  • Max, Mischa & het Tet-offensief (Max, Mischa and the Tet Offensive) by Johan Harstad, translated from Norwegian by Edith Koenders and Paula Stevens (2018). English sample translation here.
  • Verdriet is het ding met veren (Grief is the Thing with Feathers) by Max Porter, translated from English by Saskia van der Lingen (2017)
  • Zeldzame aarden (‘Rare Earths’) by Sandro Veronesi, translated from Italian by Rob Gerritsen (2016)
  • Een handvol sneeuw (The End of Days) by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated from German by Elly Schippers (2015)
  • De preek over de val van Rome (Le sermon sur la chute de Rome) by Jérôme Ferrari, translated from French by Jan Pieter van der Sterre and Reintje Ghoos (2014)
  • Limonov by Emmanuel Carrère, translated from French by Katelijne De Vuyst and Katrien Vandenberghe (2013)
  • Alsof het voorbij is (Sense of an Ending) by Julian Barnes, translated from English by Ronald Vlek (2012)
  • Drie sterke vrouwen (Trois femmes puissantes) by Marie NDiaye, translated from French by Jeanne Holierhoek (2011)
Since For whom Contact
2011 Writers Translators Marije de Bie [email protected]

Dutch Foundation for Literature’s Translation Prizes

The Dutch Foundation for Literature’s Translation prizes are awarded to literary translators who distinguish themselves both by the high quality of their translation work and by their efforts as ambassadors for a linguistic region, a genre or for literary translation in general. With these prizes the Dutch Foundation for Literature is seeking to shed light on the essential role – albeit one often left in shadow – played by translators in their work as re-creators and intermediaries between languages, literatures and cultures. The prize is presented annually to a translator into Dutch, and in even-numbered years also to a translator from Dutch. Each prize consists of €15,000.

Organisation

Dutch Foundation for Literature

Winners

Since For whom Contact
2010 Translators Fleur van Koppen [email protected]

Brockway Prize

A biennial oeuvre prize for translators of poetry from the Dutch into other languages. The award includes a sum of €5,000 and is financed from a bequest by the poet and translator James Brockway, who died in 2001.

Organisation

Dutch Foundation for Literature

Winners

Since For whom Contact
2005 Vertalers Victor Schiferli [email protected]

Else Otten Übersetzerpreis

Biennial prize for the best recent German translation of a Dutch-language work. The prize consists of €5,000.

Organisation

Dutch Foundation for Literature, in collaboration with Flanders Literature.

Winners

Since For whom Contact
2000 Translators Marije de Bie [email protected]

Prix des Phares du Nord

Biennial prize for the best recent French translation of a Dutch-language work. The prize consists of € 5,000.

Organisation

Dutch Foundation for Literature, in collaboration with Flanders Literature.

Winners

Since For whom Contact
2006 Translators Marije de Bie [email protected]

Vondel Translation Prize

Biennial prize for the best English translation of a Dutch-language literary or cultural-historical work. The prize consists of € 5,000.

Organisation

Dutch Foundation for Literature, in collaboration with Flanders Literature.

Winners

Since For whom Contact
1996 Translators Marije de Bie [email protected]
Programs